Klaus watched Audrey walk away and was tempted to go after her. Except, he didn't have an answer for her question. He still didn't know why he saved her life that night, all he knew, was that ever since he left Mystic Falls the brunette human never left his mind either. The whole time he was away creating hybrids his focus was split between that and Audrey. He even dreamed of her at one point. He didn't know what the hell was happening, but the moment he saw her in the crowd tonight it was like breathing for the first time. He wasn't suppose to think like this. "Klaus," Tony, one of his hybrids, called out. Klaus switched his attention to him to see his hybrid motioning towards Elena Gilbert walking out to look at the band. Klaus smirked and sauntered over to the doppelgänger. Except, it wasn't the one he thought.

"Where's your date?" Klaus asked.

"Getting me a drink," Katherine, who was pretending to be Elena, answered. Klaus offered her his drink but she rejected it.

"Well, seems I have you to thank for Mikael's demise," Klaus chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. Katherine was tempted to smirk at him but she knew it was very un-Elena like.

"Actually, you should be thanking my little sister," Katherine teased. Klaus's expression changed to one of shock. "Not what you expected right? You know how she is. She'll jump in front of anyone and when Mikael came at me, that's exactly what she did. Luckily, she had a stake on her," Surprised couldn't even describe what Klaus was feeling.

"Impressive," He muttered, clearing his throat. "It's not easy for a human to dagger an Original,"

"It wasn't the first time," Katherine replied, staring him down. Years of running away from this man meant she knew him. He was confused, obviously, but there was something else he was feeling too. Admiration? Katherine couldn't tell.

"Right. Elijah," Klaus laughed, shaking his head. "You seem nervous,"

"I'm not nervous. I just don't like you," Katherine lied.

"Let's get this straight to the point then, shall I, love? People have been after me for 1000 years. And I am always one step ahead. So whatever it is you're thinking of trying, go for it, give it your best shot. You won't succeed," Klaus taunted.

"It won't be for lack of trying," Katherine snapped back. Her anger getting the best of her.

"Ah, you'd be smart to tell Damon to mind his manners tonight, because if I die, I've already ensured that he'll die along with me! Even in death my hybrids have their orders. So, you kill me you're killing him too," Katherine's eyes widened at the new information and she watched Klaus saunter away. Because of her soft spot for Damon she knew she had to stop this plan from happening or at least get someone else to stop it. She knew exactly who to do it too. Klaus was still trying to process his new information as he walked into the house. Audrey was the one to dagger Mikael? The warmth he'd felt for her deepened. He caught sight of her sitting by a window alone. She seemed to be drinking her sorrow away, or maybe her frustrations. He couldn't tell. Klaus approached the human with confidence and smirked when she threw her empty cup in anger. She still had yet to see him, but their pull had her sensing him.

"Do you have a stupid answer for my stupid question yet?" She asked, slurring slightly. Klaus chuckled and took a seat next to her. Her eyes trailed over to him and despite being mad at him, she still checked him out. If anyone could pull off a tux, it was Klaus.

"You killed Mikael," Klaus stated. "I'm impressed,"

"That's not an answer and you know it!" She shouted, pointing a finger at him. Klaus was smiling at her and not in a teasing way either. Audrey was a mess, but he still admired her.

"You want an answer? Fine, I'll give you one," Klaus sighed. "I don't know why I saved you. Honestly, it was like an instinct. The minute I watched you get thrown against that wall I couldn't think. My body just...reacted," Audrey was staring at him now. "I don't know what is going on between us but something tells me that it's not normal,"

"You think?" Audrey asked mockingly. She looked out the window again and felt open. Like Klaus could see right through her. When she glanced back at him she saw him looking at her with soft expression. Cautiously, she reached out and grabbed his hand. Sparks emitted between both of them. "Do you feel that?" She asked, her eyes meeting his. Klaus wanted to deny it, tell her she was crazy, but looking into her eyes made him weak. He nodded. "Sparks aren't a real thing. I've never felt them with anyone else before and let me tell you, I thought I was in love with Damon Salvatore. Like real love, like the love you read about in books, but I never felt that with him. I don't even like you that much and I'm feeling sparks with you! Doesn't that weird you out just a little? It's almost like I'm in some freaking Disney movie and this is...," She trailed off. Klaus cocked an eyebrow at her in confusion and waited for her to continue but she couldn't. Things were becoming clear for her now.

"What?" Klaus asked. She shook her head and stood up.

"I need to find Bonnie," Audrey mumbled, walking away from him for the second time that night. Klaus was tempted to go after her but decided against it again. He thought about what she said but still didn't understand.

-

A heated game of beer-pong was being played and Klaus was on the verge of winning when one of his hybrids approached him. "You have a visitor," Mindy stated.

"Well, tell my visitor I'm on the brink of victory here," Klaus chuckled, dismissing the subject.

"He said his name is Mikael," Mindy replied. Klaus frowned and threw the ball into the cup.

"Then we mustn't keep him waiting. Move everyone out back. I'm gonna have a little chat with my dad. Tony, you know what to do," Klaus instructed, using his alpha tone. As he walked to the front door, his heart was racing. He managed to calm it down just as Mikael came in sight.

"Hello, Niklaus," Mikael greeted sarcastically.

"Hello, Mikael. Why don't you come in? Oh, that's right. You can't," Klaus taunted with a smirk.

"Or you could come outside if you want," Mikael suggested.

"Or I could watch my hybrids tear you limb from limb," Klaus chuckled bitterly. And on cue, his hybrids lined up outside in a threatening way.

"They can't kill me," Mikael said smugly.

"True. But it'll make a hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together and they'll pounce," Klaus smirked, holding two fingers up.

"The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me," Mikael explained watching the look on Klaus's face drop as Mindy pushed Audrey and Katherine out. "Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or they die," Klaus felt a tinge of betrayal but it faded as he saw the look of pure fear on Audrey's face.

"Go ahead. Kill them," Klaus challenged. Audrey shook her head frantically at him.

"No, Klaus! He'll do it!" She said with panic. Her eyes were pleading and everything inside of him wanted to protect her. He just couldn't let Mikael see that.

"If she dies, this lot will be the last of your abominations," Mikael growled nudging Katherine, who was still disguised as Elena. "And if she dies, you'll lose the only person you care about,"

"What are you talking about?" Klaus gritted out, trying to act oblivious.

"Don't play dumb, boy! You saved this weak, pathetic girl's life. You care about her," Mikael spat. "Why? Is a mystery to me," Klaus clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes at his stepfather.

"I don't need them. I just need to be rid of you," Klaus finally replied.

"To what end, Niklaus? So you can live forever, with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you anymore, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one," Mikael taunted. "No one," So much anger and hurt coursed through Klaus's body and Audrey saw tears start to gather in his eyes. Her heart was breaking for him even though it shouldn't.

"I'm calling your bluff father. Kill them," Klaus spat angrily.

"Come out and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to," Mikael growled back.

"My whole life you've underestimated me. If you kill them you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on. Kill them," Klaus was shaking by now. "Come on, old man. Kill them. Kill them!"

Mikael began to laugh. "Your impulse, Niklaus. It has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from being truly great," Mikael pulled out a dagger and stabbed Katherine first, before stabbing Audrey in the back. Klaus gasped as he watched the two girls fall to the floor. Damon rushed up behind him and turned him around to stab him in the stomach. Katherine stood back up quickly and smirked at Mikael. "Katherine," She pulled out two wolfsbane grenades and threw them at the hybrids.

"Kaboom," She added just for effect. Audrey, who was still lying on the floor in pain looked up at the sky. The blinding pain was drawing her closer to darkness. Damon was just about to stake Klaus, when Stefan jumped out and tackled Damon to the floor.

"What are you doing?!" Damon shouted as Stefan held him down. Klaus took this opportunity to grab the stake and drive it into Mikael. Mikael erupted into flames and slowly died, leaving Klaus feeling relieved beyond belief. When her smell hit his nose, Klaus ran to Audrey and fed her his blood. She was weak but as she drank she grew stronger. "What the hell did you do?!" Damon shouted again.

"He earned his freedom," Klaus stated, picking up the now unconscious Audrey in his arms. Stefan let go of Damon and stood up to face Klaus. Klaus looked into his eyes and smiled softly. "Thank you my friend. You no longer have to do as I say. You're free," Stefan blinks a few times and glanced back to see that Damon had fled before doing the same thing. Klaus looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms and had this overpowering feeling to protect her. He sighed before speeding away to the Gilbert house. Since he wasn't invited in he gently laid her on the porch swing, but the moment he set her down she stirred awake.

"Klaus?" She croaked, her eyes fluttering open to see him. Klaus looked down at the girl and was shocked when she took his hand into hers. "Thank you," She whispered as she looked up at him. Her wide brown eyes held hope and it captured his every nerve. He didn't reply he just smiled before vanishing. The way she looked at him at that moment would forever be burned into his mind.